Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale

On tap at the brewery on 6/28/09. Pours light brown with little head. Caramel and vanilla aroma with touch of pine and earthiness. Flavor is incredibly sweet with the caramel coming out in full force. Very solid brew that I could drink over and over if it weren’t for the price.

7/18/2009: Rogue Double Dead Guy is exactly what the name implies. Multiply the characteristics (deep, toasted maltiness, caramel, tea, floral and resin hops, earthy undertones) of the regular Rogue Dead Guy by a factor of two and you have this beer! In addition, it is darker (deep reddish-amber) and a bit thicker (medium-full body, sighly chewy). Overall this beer is good, but not great. It might be twice the intensity of the regular version, but it isn’t anywhere near twice as good and definitely isn’t worth the price then purchased in the big, overpriced ceramic bottle! My recommendation is to seek it out on tap somewhere and just have a sample to start followed by a pint if it meets your approval...

Draught sample(s) at the 14th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rating #469 for this beer.

Amber color kind of surprised me. I was expecting something darker and more menacing. Nose is of dying hops, heavy malts, light raisins, syrup, and alcohol. Palette is clean enough with decent enough weight. Solid mouth feel. The flavors were just kind of weak for a $13 beer. Can’t afford to buy like this often. When I do, I expect more. I’m not rating this based on price, but it sure makes a difference whether I’ll buy it again. A little fruit, a lot of malt. Alcohol is pretty well balanced. Still I was expecting more. Drank next to a Avery Old Jubilation. Old Jubilation wins out based on malt balance, complexity, and value.

Purchased ceramic bottle with no doubt what to expect. First impression is malted milk balls with a hint of citrus hops. Two finger head that vanished quickly with little lacing on the pint. Malty up front giving way to a nice hoppy finish with a lingering bitterness. Nice hazy pale copper colour and a velvet mouthfeel. As with every Rogue I’ve tried, I’ll buy it again.

On tap at Ray’s, into tulip. Poured a darker amber with a respectable beige head that barely laced. Aroma: thin hop backbone, lots of malt and alcohol really upfront. Same for the flavor. I found this too overpowering to be enjoyed a second time.

75 cl bottle at my garage-tasting May 8th. Amber color, fine beige head. Aroma is hops and malt, a bit fruit. Flavor is malty, sweet, dried fruit and has a lot of hoppy bitterness in the finish

Draft at the Nook. Amber/orange in the glass with a thin off-white head that settles out to a ring and had light lacing. Aromas of toasted malts and a light hop background. The flavor had some floral, pine, and a malt backing. Medium body with a light bitterness.

2009 bottle:
Pours clear dark amber wth a small-ish head. Sweet and malty toffee aroma. Thick and sweet palate. Sweet toffe flavour, hints of liquorice and pine needles. Sharp, alcohol bitter finish.